The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1887-06-16
Special Correspondence to THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE.

Special Correspondence to THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE.
DENVER, Colo, June o. 1857.
The interest and curiosity attachable to
sights and scenes witnessed in great cities and
other places depends q good deal upon the
history and surroundings of them, or upon past
and present conditions. There are very few of
the suddenly grown-up and developed Western
cities in America which do not possess attrac-
tiOns of this character as sequences Of their
rapid rise ami progress, and which are sources
OF never-ending wonder and admiration.
Your correspondent. now here, has visited the
majestic ranges of mountains with their awe
inspiring attributes; has seen legiOns of men
aud women on whom the undertaken had long
east wistiul eye in the East, restored TO health
by the wonderful climate and medicinal springs
of Colorado; has seen water made TO run from
bottoms" streams uphill and furnish life
giving irrigation to millions of acres of sup
posed arid aud worthless lands, and has viewed
many of the innumeTabe wonders which as
sail ones gaze on every side in this magic
State. But there is one spectacle which struck
me with astonishmeut. aud that was the street
market where the market gardeners, assembled
by hundreds. dispose of the products of their in
dustTy, and the evidences of the fertility Of the
soil.
Now i'm Eastern cities these street vegetables
and fruit markets are mattcTs-Of course and at
tract no attention beyond that impaired by
their very utility and convenience, but here
significance is attlchable to them which is
very great aud leads the thinking visitor from
the Orient 10 look upon them something In the
light OF phenomena, and one is irresistibly re-
minded OF the prophecy of Isaiah when he said
that " the desert shall rejoice and blossom as
the rose"
There are many thousands of Eastern people
who entertain the belief that the soil of this
State is OF a wTetcbedly barren character and
will nourish only the prickly cactus aud the
sage brush. while almost the Numerically OPP
pOsite is the truth. and, in the language of
Douglas Jerrold, "the earth here is SO kind,
that
JUST TICKLE HER WITH HOE
and she laughs into harvest" II is TO those
who believe, or have their minds imbued with
the belief that Colorado is only a mining
place, anyhow" that the presence of home
growers produce exchange excites feelings of
wonder aud curiosity. Your correspondent
freely admits he was one Of that numerous class,
but is grateful for being permitted to live aud
have the dust of deception wiped OF his vision
A visit to the market alluded 10 aud a chat
here aud there with the thrifty tillers of the
soil who stand By their wagons, would very
quickly convince the beholder of the falacy
concerning the alleged sterility of Mother
Earth, while a subsequent journey into the
country would make the iuquiring strangers
eyes open with unii'igncd astOnishment, and
convince him that this is indeed a land full of
smiles for the husbandmln.
/ had visit from > o'clock 20 100 10 the
market alluded 10, which is situated on Champa
street. Men, women aud children presided over
wagons containing vegetables aud early fruits,
such as currents, strawberries, etc, or stood or
sat 10y great heaps Ofproducc piled on the side
walk the margin O il. Hotel keepers res
taurant and clearinghouse proprietors
thronged there, while the butchers and others
who have 10 keep green-grocery for patrons.
elbowed the caterers ard jOstlei here and there
in their anxiety to find the best. if there were
any such thing as the best, for | never saw
finer, fresher, nor more tempting articles in
my life than were offered for sale here
The fact Is, the State may be said TO be an
Eden in the garden line, aud Denver stands
in the center OF an enormous belt of the most
productive gardens and farms in the world.
And. what is more, the producers are aware of
the vital fact that the people who live in Den
yer will have the best and demand carly
yields. Not only does this pertain TO Denver
ties, but To people all over the State and the
suburban gardeners, who ship huge quantities
20 other portions of the State say up into the
higher mountain localities, vie with each
other in producing the finest garden truck,
and having it ready to market. at the earliest
possible moment of demand.
Fortunes have been made out of pursuing
this line Of business IN Colorado, and fortunes
are being made, and others await those who will
go into II, for not only is the demand for the
products of the gardens of such proportions as
TO exceed IL very greatly but is constantly in
creasng. The fact is the State has to call to its
aid other States aud Territories. In 1856, last
year, about II 900 packages. such as crates.
boxes, baskets and cases of fruit were brought
frum OntSiun rRuinug hy tho
portion by far Of which could be grown in this
State. In this city alone last year, indepen-
dent OF what was bros@ht in from other places
outside of Colorado. there were ,50I 800 quarts
OF berries used up which were grown in the
vicinity of Denver, and of quality which
connoisseurs pronounce superior 10 any grown
in any other portion of America. The fact is
Colorado Strawberries, raspberries and black
berries lay over those grown anywhere, as
those who have tested their merits will &c
knowledge.
HORTICULTURE IN COLORADO,
after great deal Of experimenting, and, il must
be allowed, many losses, in endeavoring to ascer-
tain what kinds of trees aud shrubs were suitable
10 the varied attitudes in the State, has reached
a stage wherein success is no longer a matter
of doubt. Other Western States. such Us Wis
consin, Minnesota aud Iowa. had to go through
a similar ordeal, for there were thousands who
btliSNcub cFcu dinOiS their SctLicIsr tudL fruits
of the larger kinds could never be grown there
successfully. But the croakers had TO lie down.
In Colorado the industry has developed most
astOnishingly. Evidences Of this were given to
the wonder Of all visitors to the great Exposition
at New Orleans, where profound impression
was created among them by the magnificent dis
play made OF Colorado fruits. AT expositions
given here these have also attracted the intense
wOnderment of visitors. Att the former exhibit
ton Colorado apples were awarded the premium
for beauty Of color, smOOthness OF skin and
keeping qualities, and California came in
second. Colorado also gained the award for
flavor, and were the last 10 decay on our tables.
She showed 100 varieties, which were collected
from an area Of country extending from the
ST. Nrain Valley 10 the Arkansas River, run
ming about 200 miles from north TO south.
The best fruit lands are the higher, and
at attitudes below 6,OGO, though in sheltered
localities fine fruits can be produced ut rs
high as 1900 In the light of what has been
done, il is predicted confidently that within the
next 10 years Colorado will produce apples
alone enough for the enormous home cOnsump-
| tiou and a surplus for shipment, and if she
do that, aud from what L have seen | do not
| doubt it. she will do a prodigy of wonder.
| Just think of IT, She has one-third more